Latching means



Sept. 28, 1965 A. WALLER ETAL LATCHING MEANS Filed July 5, 1963 I II (Il I'll,

III

drihur' ZUaZZem Oiio Isezzsee,Jr INVENTORS United States Patent Office PM... 5.... 28, .965

3,208,780 LATCHING MEANS Arthur Waller, Highland Park, and Otto Isensee, In, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Bull Dog Lock Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 292,843 4 Claims. (Cl. 29270) This invention relates to an improved design for latch constructions whereby relatively movable members, such as cabinet doors and frames, can be efliciently held in stationary relationship.

In the production of door latches, it is particularly desirable to provide for economy since such latches are produced in great numbers and must be sold at a relatively low price due to the competitive nature of this business. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide latch constructions which can be manufactured in a relatively simple fashion with the need for a minimum number of parts and a minimum number of forming operations.

It is also particularly desirable to provide latch constructions which can be assembled and placed in position in a relatively simple fashion. Thus, the great number of such construction which are used in home construction and the like necessitates a relatively simple mode of installation as otherwise, valuable labor would be expended. Furthermore, where the constructions are to be installed by individual home owners or the like, it is important to provide simple means for insuring proper installation and efficient operation. In the production of latch constructions, it is also necessary to seek durability in the constructions since most cases, the constructions are subjected to continuous use. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide such constructions with features which decrease the tendency toward misalignment during installation and use whereby problems in the proper operation of doors and the like are minimized.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide an improved latch construction which is characterized by case of manufacture and simplicity of installation whereby highly efficient use thereof can be realized.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a latch construction which can be manufactured from relatively inexpensive materials whereby the latch construction can be competitive with known constructions of less desirable characteristics.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a latch construction having a highly durable character whereby the construction can be subjected to continuous use over a long period of time without any significant decrease in its operating efliciency.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a cabinet having a latch construction of this invention applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the latch construction of FIGURE 1 in cross section;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the female member of the latch construction of the type shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary end view of the female member shown in FIGURE 3 FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end view of the male member of a latch construction of the type shown in FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of an alternative form for a female member characterized by the features of this invention.

The latch construction of this invention includes male and female members, one of which is attached to either of two relatively movable members. It will be understood that such members may comprise one stationary member and one movable member as in the case of a cabinet frame and associated door. In addition, the invention contemplates the use of the latch constructions for holding together members which both move into position for latching.

The male member which characterizes the latch construction of this invention includes an enlarged end portion and an enlarged base portion with a necked down portion formed between these enlarged portions. The female member defines an open interior which is dimen sioned in accordance with the dimensions of the various portions of the male member. With this arrangement, the male member, when seated within the female member, will snugly engage the interior surface of the female member. The provision of substantially similar dimensions in the male and female members provides for substantially similar contours on the exterior surface of the male member and on the interior surface of the female member. The snug interfitting of these members provides for holding of the door or other element with which the latch construction is associated in a highly efficient manner. Specifically, the female member completely encircles the male member and, therefore, movement of the male member is restricted in all directions. Any tendency of the door to become misaligned is, therefore, impeded by the latch construction. Sagging of the door due to its weight or misalignment due to warping is effectively resisted by the construction described.

The female member of this invention generally comprises a cylindrical portion which defines the contoured open interior. This cylindrical portion is split through a peripheral wall so that the female member can spread apart when the enlarged end of the male member is forced past the small intermediate portion of the female member. When the head portion has passed this small intermediate portion, the female member will resume its normal position to snugly fit around the male member.

Certain materials have been found to be particularly suitable for use in the latch constructions of this invention. Specifically, nylon, Delryn, polypropylene, and materials having similar characteristics have been found suitable for providing ideal latch constructions. Such materials are highly suitable for the female member since they have sufiicient toughness and resiliency whereby they can be spread apart an indefinite number of times and still assume their original shape. Such materials are selflubricating and extremely wear resistant. It will be understood, however, that various other materials including metal can be employed in producing the specific constructions of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, FIGURES l and 2 illustrate a latch construction 10 which includes various novel features of this invention. This construction provides a female member 12 and a male member 14. The female member is attached to a frame 16 which may be part of a cabinet while the male member is fastened to the door 18. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the female member defines an open interior portion which includes an enlarged rearward portion 20, an enlarged forward portion 22 and a narrow intermediate portion 24. The male member includes an enlarged end 26 and an enlarged base portion 28 and a necked down intermediate portion 30. These portions of the male and female members define contours which substantially correspond in dimension. It will be noted in this connection, that the outer diameter of the enlarged end- 26 of the male member exceeds the inner diameter of the intermediate portion 24 of the female member.

Interfitting of the male and female members is accomplished through the provision of a split portion 32 formed in the female member. When the male member is pressed into the female member, the walls of the latter spread apart, and then snap back into place when the enlarged end 26 has passed by the intermediate portion 24. This arrangement provides for firm gripping of the male member and it also provides for the application of force on all sides of the male member. Any tendency for the door 18 to become misaligned While the door is latched is therefore resisted by the latch construction.

FIGURES 3, 4 and substantially correspond in construction to the embodiment shown in FIGURES l and 2. In FIGURE 3, however, the cylindrical portion 34 of the female member 12 is attached to the base portion 36 of this female member by means of a screw 38. When the female member is assembled in this fashion, some play in the female member can be provided to accommodate slight misalignment of this member relative to the male member. However, the female member may be formed in one integral piece to improve the economy of the construction.

FIGURE 6 illustrates an alternative form of the invention wherein the female member 40 is provided with a cylindrical portion 42 defining an open interior 44 which is contoured in accordance With the above description. The cylindrical portion is attached to the base 46 of the female member by means of a web portion 48. It will be noted that, with the exception of this web portion, the cylindrical and base portions are spaced apart and, therefore, flexing of these portions is made possible. Accordingly, when the male member is moved into position, the female member can adjust its position to accommodate any misalignment.

It will be noted that the male member 14 shown in FIGURES 2 and 5 includes a central bore 50 which terminates in a similar bore extending through the base portion 28. A screw 52 is adapted to be inserted into the central bore 50 and to seat on the shoulders defined at the bottom thereof. A screw driver can then be inserted into the bore 50 for fastening of the male member in an extremely simple fashion. The relatively large base 28 of the male member permits the use of a single screw since the large base tends to stabilize this member.

The female member 40 shown in FIGURE 6 also provides a bore 54 which communicates with the interior 44. A similar portion is formed in the base 46 whereby a screw 56 can be passed through the interior of the female member to seat on the base 46. As in the previous case, a screw driver can also be passed through these openings for fastening of the screw.

The above described preferred forms for the male and female members greatly simplify installation since a single screw can be employed for securely fastening the male and female members in a stable fashion. Furthermore, exact alignment of these members with respect to each other can be accomplished since after one member is secured, the other member may be latched thereto, and the position of the screw for this other member can be accurately located by moving the assembly into association with the door or frame to be provided with the construction. It will be understood, however, that a more conventional fastening means may be employed as suggested by the use of the screws 58 shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

It will also be noted with reference to FIGURE 6 that the female member has been located in a recessed portion 60 formed in the frame member 62. It will be apparent that the elements which make up the latch construction design of this invention can be associated in a wide variety of ways with various forms of relatively movable members.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the above described latch construction which provide the characteristics of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof particularly as defined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A door latch construction for association with cabinet doors and the like to hold the doors in stationary relationship with respect to associated frames comprising a male member and a female member, said male member having enlarged end and base portions and a necked down intermediate portion, said female member having a cylindrical shape and defining an open interior terminating in opposite open ends, one of said ends being provided for receiving said male member, said interior having a forward portion approximately corresponding in dimensions to said enlarged end portions, an intermediate portion approximately corresponding in dimensions to said necked down portion, and a rearward portion approximately corresponding in dimensions to said base portion, said female member defining an unbroken outer peripheral wall with the exception of a single split extending longitudinally of said female member to completely separate said peripheral wall whereby the female member is adapted to spread to permit said enlarged end portion to be forced past the intermediate portion of said female member, the interior contours of said female member approximately corresponding to the external contours of said male member whereby said members are snugly engaged when in latched relationship.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said male and female members each include central bores defined to extend through the base portions thereof whereby fastening screws and a screw driver can be inserted through said bores to facilitate fastening of said male and female members to the respective door and frame.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including a base portion removably holding said cylindrical female member, said base portion defining a groove for fitting of the peripheral wall of said female member therein, and a fastening means extending through said peripheral wall for adjustably securing said base portion to said female member whereby said female member can be accurately positioned with respect to said male member.

4. A door latch construction for association with cabinet doors and the like to hold the doors in stationary relationship with respect to associated frames comprising a male member and a female member, said male member having enlarged end and base portions and a necked down intermediate portion, said female member having a cylindrical shape anddefining an open interior terminating in opposite open ends, one of said ends being provided for receiving said male member, said interior having a forward portion approximately corresponding in dimensions to said enlarged end portions, an intermediate portion approximately corresponding in dimensions to said necked down portion, and a rearward portion approximately corresponding in dimensions to said base portion, said female member defining an unbroken outer peripheral wall with the exception of a single split extending longitudinally of said female member to completely separate said peripheral wall whereby the female member is adapted to spread to permit said enlarged end portion to be forced past the inter-mediate portion of said female member, the interior contours of said female member approximately corresponding to the external contours of said male member whereby said members are snugly engaged when in latched relationship, and wherein said female member includes a base portion situated adjacent its other open end, said other end being spaced from said base portion, and including a narrow web member formed integrally with said female member and with said base portion, saidweb member comprising an extension of said peripheral wall and serving to interconnect the female member to its base portion, the provision of said web member permitting limited flexing movement between said female member and its base portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 717,813 1/03 Colman 292-17 842,304 1/07 Deming 29217 2,210,799 8/40 Denny 24-217 2,767,005 10/56 Jorgensen 292-70 2,847,240 8/58 Stone et al. 292-70 M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner. 

1. A DOOR LATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR ASSOCIATION WITH CABINET DOORS AND THE LIKE TO HOLD THE DOORS IN STATIONARY RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO ASSOCIATED FRMES COMPRISING A MALE MEMBER AND FEMALE MEMBER, SAID MALE MEMBER HAVING ENLARGED END AND BASE PORTIONS AND NECKED DOWN INTERMEDIATE PORTION, SAID FEMALE MEMBER HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SHAPE AND DEFINING AN OPEN INTERIOR TERMINATING IN OPPOSITE OPEN ENDS, ONE OF SAID ENDS BEING PROVIDED FOR RECEIVING SAID MALE MEMBER, SAID INTERIOR HAVING A FORWARD PORTION APPROXIMATELY CORRESPONDING IN DEMENSIONS TO SAID ENLARGED END PORTIONS, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION APPROXIMATELY CORRESPONDING IN DIMENSIONS TO SAID NECKED DOWN PORTION, AND A REARWARD PORTION APPROXIMATELY CORRESPONDING IN DIMENSIONS TO SAID BASE PORTION, SAID FEMALE MEMBER DEFINING AN UNBROKEN OUTER PERIPHERAL WALL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A SINGLE SPLIT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID FEMALE MEMBER TO COMPLETELY SEPARATE SAID PERIPHERAL WALL WHEREBY THE FEMALE MEMBER IS ADAPTED TO SPREAD TO PERMIT SAID ENLARGED END PORTION TO BE FORCED PAST THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID FEMALE MEMBER, THE INTERIOR CONTOURS OF SAID FEMALE MEMBER APPROXIMATELY CORRESPONDING TO THE EXTERNAL CONTOURS OF SAID MALE MEMBER WHEREBY SAID MEMBERS ARE SNUGLY ENGAGED WHEN IN LATCHED RELATIONSHIP. 